No. 20 Lions pull away from Trevecca, 88-73
Thu, January 29, 2009 - [MEN'S BASKETBALL]
HENDERSON, Tenn. - Closing out games in the final minutes is starting to become a bit of a pattern for the Freed-Hardeman men's basketball team.
The No. 20 Lions used an 11-1 second-half run to pull away from the Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) Trojans on Thursday night in the Sports Center, turning what was a close game with six minutes left into an 88-73 victory.
The win keeps the Lions (16-6, 8-1) in a first-place tie in the TranSouth Conference with Cumberland (Tenn.), which pays a visit to Freed-Hardeman on Saturday. Cumberland handed FHU its only conference loss thus far this season.
In the first meeting between Freed-Hardeman and Trevecca, the Lions shot very well (14-of-30) from behind the arc. The first half of tonight's game was an entirely different story as the Lions made just 2-of-13 attempts from 3-point range.
But FHU still took a 36-33 lead into the locker room thanks in large part to the largest player on the team: 6-foot-9 senior Tyler Jennings. Jennings had 10 points and seven rebounds - five offensive - in the half while the team's leading scorer, Zack Frey, was on the bench with two fouls.
"Tyler has been a backup post man ever since he's been here and has been extremely valuable in that role," said FHU head coach Jason Shelton. "He stepped up and made some big plays tonight. He saved us in the first half."
The Trojans were able to get into transition early in the second half and eventually retook the lead for the first time since early in the game on a basket by Jeremy Dixon. One of Michael France's four 3-pointers on the night gave TNU a 45-42 lead with 16:20 to play, and the Trojans maintained a two-point edge three minutes later until a pair of Frey free throws tied the game at 49-49.
FHU then got a steal from Kristoffer Smith that turned into a basket for Shun Trevillian, and the Lions would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.
Trevecca fended off Freed-Hardeman's first attempt at a knockout blow, cutting a nine-point Lion lead down to three (69-66) with 5:30 remaining. The second attempt, however, would be one from which the Trojans would not recover. Freed-Hardeman went on an 11-1 run, kicked off by a deep 3-pointer by Trevillian, to open up an 80-67 edge with 2:48 left.
The Lion defense held Brian Oduor, who entered the game averaging a conference-best 22.3 points per game, to a season-low 10 points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field.
"We tried to make him give the ball up," Shelton said. "We missed some rotations trying to play out of that double team that got some other guys good shots. But other than putting him on the free throw line, we did a good job."
FHU was led in scoring by Frey with 19 points and eight rebounds. Four other Lions reached double figures in scoring: Jennings (14), Trevillian (13), Smith (13), and Jesse Moulton (10). Jennings also had eight rebounds and Trevillian dished out nine assists against just one turnover.
The Lions, winners of nine straight games, have a huge game with No. 7 Cumberland on Saturday for sole possession of first place in the TranSouth Conference. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thought for the day 1/26
Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them. - Washington Irving
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
LIONS IN TOP 25 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2003
KANSAS CITY – It’s been a long time coming. But the time finally came.
Riding the wave of a six-game winning streak that included road wins over then-No. 16 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College and then-No. 5 Union (Tenn.) University, the Freed-Hardeman University Lions made it into the NAIA national ratings for the first time since Mar. 11, 2003. The Lions were ranked at No. 20 in Monday’s poll.
“It is a nice recognition of the work our guys have put in. Now we have to continue to improve daily individually and collectively,” said FHU head coach Jason Shelton. “We are in a great league with a lot of games left to play.”
Shelton, in his fourth season at Freed-Hardeman, has systematically rebuilt the Lion basketball program since his arrival in the spring of 2005. The Lions won just 20 games in his first two years, but have gone 34-17 since then.
Nevertheless, Shelton is not content to rest on this week’s ranking.
“The only [rating] that matters is the last one,” he said. “We have a long way to go.”
The Lions are 14-6 on the season and 6-1 in conference after edging Lyon (Ark.) College, 84-82, on Monday in Batesville, Ark.
#FHU#
Riding the wave of a six-game winning streak that included road wins over then-No. 16 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College and then-No. 5 Union (Tenn.) University, the Freed-Hardeman University Lions made it into the NAIA national ratings for the first time since Mar. 11, 2003. The Lions were ranked at No. 20 in Monday’s poll.
“It is a nice recognition of the work our guys have put in. Now we have to continue to improve daily individually and collectively,” said FHU head coach Jason Shelton. “We are in a great league with a lot of games left to play.”
Shelton, in his fourth season at Freed-Hardeman, has systematically rebuilt the Lion basketball program since his arrival in the spring of 2005. The Lions won just 20 games in his first two years, but have gone 34-17 since then.
Nevertheless, Shelton is not content to rest on this week’s ranking.
“The only [rating] that matters is the last one,” he said. “We have a long way to go.”
The Lions are 14-6 on the season and 6-1 in conference after edging Lyon (Ark.) College, 84-82, on Monday in Batesville, Ark.
#FHU#
Monday, January 19, 2009
Story from the Jackson Sun 1/18
FHU stifles Union
By MATT VINES
mvines1@jacksonsun.com• January 18, 2009
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090118/SPORTS/901180321
Freed-Hardeman has been in a rebuilding process in coach Jason Shelton's three-and-a-half seasons at the helm.
With a 69-66 win at No. 5 Union, the Lions' third victory over a ranked opponent this season, the rebuilding process is officially over.
FHU (13-6, 5-1) forced Union's Matt Neaville and Brian Lake to pass on a game-winning shot attempt and claimed the win as Greg Truvillion's 3-pointer ricocheted off the backboard.
"I am going to enjoy the win until about dinner time (on Saturday)," said FHU coach Jason Shelton. "Then my mind will drift to Lyon and gathering film."
"This is a big win, but we can't relax because we want to continue with the building process."
FHU's Zack Frey missed the front end of a free-throw trip to keep Union within three points, but the Lions' defense bailed them out just as it had all game.
"We have a play that we run in those situations, but we hadn't rehearsed it enough, and that's poor coaching on my part," said Union coach Ralph Turner. "We try to free up Neaville or Lake on that play and have Martez Hawkins as our third option, but Truvillion caught the pass that was intended for Hawkins.
"We executed horribly on offense, and I got outcoached all day."
The Bulldogs (14-4, 4-1) made just six-of-26 from 3-point range and shot 37 percent from the field, including just 30 percent in the first half.
FHU's Jesse Moulton led three Lions' scorers in double figures with 16 points, including 4-of-7 from behind the arc.
Moulton scored seven of FHU's last 12 points as Union made just six-of-13 free throws in the second half to stifle the Bulldogs' comeback attempt.
"We played a tough non-conference schedule, and that has paid off in TranSouth play," Moulton said. "I get hyped when our team makes big shots, and we made them (on Saturday).
"Our main goal was to get the ball inside to Zach, and he opens up the floor for the rest of us."
Despite Frey shooting 4-of-12 and scoring 12 points, the junior forward drew attention from Union's defense, allowing the Lions to shoot 6-of-13 from 3-point range in the second half.
Hawkins (12 points) drilled one of his two 3-pointers to cut the FHU lead to 62-61 with two minutes remaining, but FHU's Shun Trevillian answered with a 3-pointer to keep his Lions ahead.
Union's Brian Lake, who has made two game-winning shots this season, scored just seven points but grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds.
Freed-Hardeman extends its winning streak to six games to take the top conference spot while ending Union's six-game streak.
Both teams return to the floor Monday with FHU traveling to Lyon while Union hosts Blue Mountain.
- Matt Vines, 425-9634
By MATT VINES
mvines1@jacksonsun.com• January 18, 2009
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090118/SPORTS/901180321
Freed-Hardeman has been in a rebuilding process in coach Jason Shelton's three-and-a-half seasons at the helm.
With a 69-66 win at No. 5 Union, the Lions' third victory over a ranked opponent this season, the rebuilding process is officially over.
FHU (13-6, 5-1) forced Union's Matt Neaville and Brian Lake to pass on a game-winning shot attempt and claimed the win as Greg Truvillion's 3-pointer ricocheted off the backboard.
"I am going to enjoy the win until about dinner time (on Saturday)," said FHU coach Jason Shelton. "Then my mind will drift to Lyon and gathering film."
"This is a big win, but we can't relax because we want to continue with the building process."
FHU's Zack Frey missed the front end of a free-throw trip to keep Union within three points, but the Lions' defense bailed them out just as it had all game.
"We have a play that we run in those situations, but we hadn't rehearsed it enough, and that's poor coaching on my part," said Union coach Ralph Turner. "We try to free up Neaville or Lake on that play and have Martez Hawkins as our third option, but Truvillion caught the pass that was intended for Hawkins.
"We executed horribly on offense, and I got outcoached all day."
The Bulldogs (14-4, 4-1) made just six-of-26 from 3-point range and shot 37 percent from the field, including just 30 percent in the first half.
FHU's Jesse Moulton led three Lions' scorers in double figures with 16 points, including 4-of-7 from behind the arc.
Moulton scored seven of FHU's last 12 points as Union made just six-of-13 free throws in the second half to stifle the Bulldogs' comeback attempt.
"We played a tough non-conference schedule, and that has paid off in TranSouth play," Moulton said. "I get hyped when our team makes big shots, and we made them (on Saturday).
"Our main goal was to get the ball inside to Zach, and he opens up the floor for the rest of us."
Despite Frey shooting 4-of-12 and scoring 12 points, the junior forward drew attention from Union's defense, allowing the Lions to shoot 6-of-13 from 3-point range in the second half.
Hawkins (12 points) drilled one of his two 3-pointers to cut the FHU lead to 62-61 with two minutes remaining, but FHU's Shun Trevillian answered with a 3-pointer to keep his Lions ahead.
Union's Brian Lake, who has made two game-winning shots this season, scored just seven points but grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds.
Freed-Hardeman extends its winning streak to six games to take the top conference spot while ending Union's six-game streak.
Both teams return to the floor Monday with FHU traveling to Lyon while Union hosts Blue Mountain.
- Matt Vines, 425-9634
Friday, January 16, 2009
Story from the Jackson Sun 1/16
FHU men off to best start in five seasons
By MICHAEL ODOM
January 16, 2009
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090116/SPORTS/901160319
HENDERSON - The Freed-Hardeman men are off to their best start in conference play since the 2002-03 season after a 96-80 win against Bethel at Freed-Hardeman.
The Lions (12-6, 4-1) have won five straight games since a Dec. 8 loss to Lambuth, and they have beaten Bethel six straight times.
"Any time we can get a win, it is great," Freed-Hardeman coach Jason Shelton said.
Bethel (10-7, 0-5) is still winless in the TranSouth conference and has lost six of its last seven games.
FHU's Zack Frey reached the 1,000-point milestone with a game-high 32 points. He is the 25th player to reach the mark in men's basketball at Freed-Hardeman.
Frey shot 14-of-16 from the field and grabbed 8 rebounds.
"My teammates were getting me the ball," Frey said. "And I was in the zone, they recognize when someone is hot and got me the ball."
But it wasn't just Frey that shot well. The Lions shot 58 percent as a team and outrebounded the Wildcats 43-32.
The Lions shot well from the start and jumped out to a 51-39 lead at halftime on 60 percent shooting. Frey was also hot shooting 8-of-9 from the field while scoring 19 points.
"That is the great thing about having good teammates, they get you the ball where you need it," Shelton said.
The shooting did not cool down much in the second half as the Lions continued to shoot over 55 percent.
"It was a high-scoring game," Frey said. "We were setting good screens, and we were cutting hard so our offense got to do what it wanted."
Bethel tried to comeback in the second half on the back of Dontaye Hinton and Antoine Lesesene, but the Lions hit 9-of-15 free throws in the second half to seal the win.
Hinton led the Wildcats with 31 points and Lesesene added 19.
FHU is now 6-0 when scoring more than 80 points and 10-1 when it outrebounds its opponents.
Shelton said the true test for his team comes Saturday in the form of No. 5 Union at Fred DeLay Gymnasium at 4 p.m.
"The Union game gives us a great opportunity to measure ourselves," Shelton said.
By MICHAEL ODOM
January 16, 2009
http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090116/SPORTS/901160319
HENDERSON - The Freed-Hardeman men are off to their best start in conference play since the 2002-03 season after a 96-80 win against Bethel at Freed-Hardeman.
The Lions (12-6, 4-1) have won five straight games since a Dec. 8 loss to Lambuth, and they have beaten Bethel six straight times.
"Any time we can get a win, it is great," Freed-Hardeman coach Jason Shelton said.
Bethel (10-7, 0-5) is still winless in the TranSouth conference and has lost six of its last seven games.
FHU's Zack Frey reached the 1,000-point milestone with a game-high 32 points. He is the 25th player to reach the mark in men's basketball at Freed-Hardeman.
Frey shot 14-of-16 from the field and grabbed 8 rebounds.
"My teammates were getting me the ball," Frey said. "And I was in the zone, they recognize when someone is hot and got me the ball."
But it wasn't just Frey that shot well. The Lions shot 58 percent as a team and outrebounded the Wildcats 43-32.
The Lions shot well from the start and jumped out to a 51-39 lead at halftime on 60 percent shooting. Frey was also hot shooting 8-of-9 from the field while scoring 19 points.
"That is the great thing about having good teammates, they get you the ball where you need it," Shelton said.
The shooting did not cool down much in the second half as the Lions continued to shoot over 55 percent.
"It was a high-scoring game," Frey said. "We were setting good screens, and we were cutting hard so our offense got to do what it wanted."
Bethel tried to comeback in the second half on the back of Dontaye Hinton and Antoine Lesesene, but the Lions hit 9-of-15 free throws in the second half to seal the win.
Hinton led the Wildcats with 31 points and Lesesene added 19.
FHU is now 6-0 when scoring more than 80 points and 10-1 when it outrebounds its opponents.
Shelton said the true test for his team comes Saturday in the form of No. 5 Union at Fred DeLay Gymnasium at 4 p.m.
"The Union game gives us a great opportunity to measure ourselves," Shelton said.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thought for the day 1/14
To repeat successes of the past, follow your old program. Don't get fancy, just be consistent. - Bill Rodgers, Distance Runner
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Thought for the day 1/13
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. - Jack London
Monday, January 12, 2009
Thought for the day 1/12
I prepared myself beforehand until I knew that I could do what I had to do. Then I had faith. - Joe Namath, former NFL Quarterback
Friday, January 9, 2009
Recap of last nights game
This is from our school website:
Lions shake slow start, upset No. 16 RedHawks
Thu, January 08, 2009 - [MEN'S BASKETBALL]
PULASKI, Tenn. -- Freed-Hardeman head coach Jason Shelton put together a strenuous non-conference schedule just for nights like this.
The Lions overcame a sluggish start to rally past No. 16 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College, 66-62, at the Curry Life Center on Thursday night. FHU improves to 10-6 on the season and 2-1 in the TranSouth Conference while handing the RedHawks (14-2, 4-1) their first conference loss.
With the victory, FHU emerged mostly unscathed from a difficult three-game road swing (Trevecca, Cumberland, Martin Methodist) to open conference play.
"We've played a tough [non-conference] schedule to prepare us to play good teams [in conference]," said Shelton. "We played a good team tonight."
For much of the first half it looked like the Lions would do anything but pull an upset as they opened the game ice cold from the field, making just four of their first 20 shot attempts and missing on their first 10 from behind the 3-point arc. As a result, FHU found itself trailing 29-13 with 4:38 left in the half.
But then the shots started falling.
The Lions closed the half by outscoring the RedHawks 14-3 with Jesse Moulton knocking down a trio of 3-pointers to fuel the run, closing within five points (32-27) at the break. Picking up where it left off, FHU scored the first six points of the second half on two Shun Trevillian 3-pointers to take its first lead of the game.
Martin Methodist retook control, going on a 13-3 run to take an 11 point lead, 46-35, with 12:43 remaining. But FHU stormed right back with a 16-2 run of its own to retake the lead at 51-48 on a Logan Greer 3-pointer. The Lions then extended their lead to 58-51 with just over 3:00 remaining and held off the RedHawks' final push by making 8-of-10 free throws in the final minute, including four straight from Moulton to seal the win.
Shelton pointed to a pair of players who didn't see many minutes as catalysts for the big spurts in each half: Anthony Sampson in the first half, and Vince Barnes in the second half.
"Both played very short minutes, but their time out there was huge," he said. "Anthony got people where they needed to be [offensively] in the first half. ... We put Vince in because of matchups, and he did a great job."
Moulton led all scorers with a career-high 23 points while making 5-of-10 from behind the arc and 8-of-8 from the foul line. Trevillian and Zack Frey each added 12 points. Martin Methodist was paced by Aubre Bodison's 12 points.
"[Jesse] is a very good shooter," said Shelton. "We did the right things to get him shots. Because of that, it created opportunities for other people."
Freed-Hardeman now prepares for its home conference opener against Blue Mountain (Miss.) College on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
Lions shake slow start, upset No. 16 RedHawks
Thu, January 08, 2009 - [MEN'S BASKETBALL]
PULASKI, Tenn. -- Freed-Hardeman head coach Jason Shelton put together a strenuous non-conference schedule just for nights like this.
The Lions overcame a sluggish start to rally past No. 16 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) College, 66-62, at the Curry Life Center on Thursday night. FHU improves to 10-6 on the season and 2-1 in the TranSouth Conference while handing the RedHawks (14-2, 4-1) their first conference loss.
With the victory, FHU emerged mostly unscathed from a difficult three-game road swing (Trevecca, Cumberland, Martin Methodist) to open conference play.
"We've played a tough [non-conference] schedule to prepare us to play good teams [in conference]," said Shelton. "We played a good team tonight."
For much of the first half it looked like the Lions would do anything but pull an upset as they opened the game ice cold from the field, making just four of their first 20 shot attempts and missing on their first 10 from behind the 3-point arc. As a result, FHU found itself trailing 29-13 with 4:38 left in the half.
But then the shots started falling.
The Lions closed the half by outscoring the RedHawks 14-3 with Jesse Moulton knocking down a trio of 3-pointers to fuel the run, closing within five points (32-27) at the break. Picking up where it left off, FHU scored the first six points of the second half on two Shun Trevillian 3-pointers to take its first lead of the game.
Martin Methodist retook control, going on a 13-3 run to take an 11 point lead, 46-35, with 12:43 remaining. But FHU stormed right back with a 16-2 run of its own to retake the lead at 51-48 on a Logan Greer 3-pointer. The Lions then extended their lead to 58-51 with just over 3:00 remaining and held off the RedHawks' final push by making 8-of-10 free throws in the final minute, including four straight from Moulton to seal the win.
Shelton pointed to a pair of players who didn't see many minutes as catalysts for the big spurts in each half: Anthony Sampson in the first half, and Vince Barnes in the second half.
"Both played very short minutes, but their time out there was huge," he said. "Anthony got people where they needed to be [offensively] in the first half. ... We put Vince in because of matchups, and he did a great job."
Moulton led all scorers with a career-high 23 points while making 5-of-10 from behind the arc and 8-of-8 from the foul line. Trevillian and Zack Frey each added 12 points. Martin Methodist was paced by Aubre Bodison's 12 points.
"[Jesse] is a very good shooter," said Shelton. "We did the right things to get him shots. Because of that, it created opportunities for other people."
Freed-Hardeman now prepares for its home conference opener against Blue Mountain (Miss.) College on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Happy New Year
I hope everyone had a great break and you are ready to get back into the swing of things. We enjoyed spending time with friends and family during the time off and it was definitely not a long enough break but it never is.
Our guys were back for practice the night of January 1st to start preparing for our game at Martin Methodist tomorrow night. We were starting to play well before the break but you never know what will happen when you don't play for 3 weeks.
I wish everyone the best of luck in their seasons and we hope to see you soon.
Our guys were back for practice the night of January 1st to start preparing for our game at Martin Methodist tomorrow night. We were starting to play well before the break but you never know what will happen when you don't play for 3 weeks.
I wish everyone the best of luck in their seasons and we hope to see you soon.
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